A SEASON TO SERVE

With all the busyness of the past few months, I've come to a startling realization:

It's really not about me. LOL! Maybe I've been slow to get it, but it's finally sinking in. Last year at this time, I was working out nearly every day, writing, and generally keeping up with life. This year, every time I try to plan something a family member is sick, has an appointment, or otherwise needs my help.

And you know what?

I'm not stressed about it the way I used to get. (Well, not as stressed, anyway.) That's because I believe God is allowing this to be my season to serve others and put my own needs on the backburner. Does it kick against my Type-A personality? A bit, but accepting this instead of fighting has brought peace, plus I'm learning to improvise.

Instead of going to the health club every day, I can run across the street and hike the mountain. Here's the view from last Friday. It's nearly one mile up, right before I went down the backside. Great view of the treetops and the city below.


In other news, I signed up for the ACFW conference! This week I shall be arranging the flights and whatnot. So glad the indecision time is over :D

My question to you, have you been through a serving season? How long did it last and what did you learn?

DECEIT

Great book! I was hooked, and like all other books by Brandilyn Collins, Deceit is a page turner that will keep you up into the night. In case you have a sensitive nature, I must warn you that this one seems a bit graphic with the violence, but if you like a good scare jump right in!

This week, the


Christian Fiction Blog Alliance


is introducing


Deceit


Zondervan (June 18, 2010)


by


Brandilyn Collins





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:





Brandilyn Collins is an award-winning and best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline "Don't forget to b r e a t h e..."® Brandilyn's first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is now working on her 20th book.



In addition, Brandilyn’s other latest release is Final Touch, third in The Rayne Tour series—young adult suspense co-written with her daughter, Amberly. The Rayne Tour series features Shaley O’Connor, daughter of a rock star, who just may have it all—until murder crashes her world.









ABOUT THE BOOK

Skip Tracer Joanne Weeks knows Baxter Jackson killed his second wife---and Joanne's best friend---seven years ago. But Jackson, a church elder and beloved member of the town, walks the streets a free man.



The police tell Joanne to leave well enough alone, but Joanne is determined to bring Jackson down. Using her skip tracing skills, she sets out to locate Melissa Harkoff, now twenty-two, who lived in the Jackson home at the time of Linda Jackson's disappearance.



As Joanne drives home on a rainy winter night, a hooded figure darts in front of her car. In her headlight beams she glimpses the half-concealed face of a man, a rivulet of blood jagging down his cheek. She squeals to a stop but clips him with her right fender. Shaking, she gets out of her car in the pouring rain. The man will not let her see his face. Before he limps off into the night he warns her not to talk to police.



As Joanne tries to find Melissa, someone seems to be after her. Who was the man she hit on the road. Is Baxter Jackson out to silence her? Or is some other skip she's traced in the past now out for revenge?

"

If you would like to read the first chapter of Deceit, go HERE

THE FUN-NESS OF FRIENDS & A TEST

This is already turning out to be a great summer for hanging out with family and friends. Yesterday Michelle Sutton came to town with her family, and we got to hang out and have dinner. Here's Michelle with my daughter and me.


In a few weeks Gina Conroy will be coming through, and I'm expecting more Good Times :D

This works out well for us, because we don't get to go anywhere since my hub works a grueling schedule all summer long. It's great to have the fun come to us!

Of course, I still haven't actually found time to start my next writing project, so once I do I will have to type fast. Speaking of which, we haven't done that in a while! No doubt I have slowed down in my old age. Here are my results:

Your adjusted speed of 65 WPM was81% above the average 36 WPM.

Ouch. Considerably slower than the last time I took it where I score 89 words per minute. Take the test HERE and let me know where you fall. (It only takes 1 minute.)

Tips for typing speed:

*Position your body correctly: wrists, elbows, and keyboard should be at a 90 degree angle with your upper arms.

*Tap each key with the minimum force necessary, which will allow your fingers to move faster.

*Use all your fingers when typing. Be able to reposition your fingers blind by learning the home keys.

*Know how to properly type special keys (&*#$!") with the proper fingers, without looking. (BTW, I wasn't swearing at you.)

How fast are you?

WE HAVE LIFTOFF!


Thanks for all the prayers and well-wishes last week as we planned our oldest daughter's graduation. It turned out fabulously--a day with family and friends, people surrounding Baby Girl to celebrate her launch out of high school. She's officially an emerging adult--yay!

In addition to the super coolness of having a nice party in the afternoon, at the graduation we "just happened" to get seats on the floor near the students instead of the stadium seating above. Plus, we got tons of professional shots of dear daughter before, during, and after, by a photographer who happens to be a family friend.

It's time for my daughter to enter into the next phase of life, and it's not without some apprehension on my part. Launching into the next zone is not without its misfires, but I'm thankful to know the One who knows it all :D

Anyone else going through a major life change?